Sando ‘Cells’ His Research at Student Conference
Rick Sando knows rhythms. Whether as a guitarist in a local band, or as a burgeoning undergraduate scientist at Rider University, he understands that everything in life is paced by its own unique cadence, and that the tempo of his research is carrying him ever closer to a career in neuroscience. A junior Biopsychology major, Sando received recognition for his research about a gene essential to circadian rhythms at the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Honor Society’s annual meeting and student research conference in Orlando, Fla. in November.
The Levittown, Pa., native attended the national scientific research society’s conference with his adviser, Dr. Phillip Lowrey, assistant professor of Biology. Sando presented the research during an undergraduate poster session where he faced the inquiries and evaluations of the conference’s judges. One of 42 students competing in his category, Sando was awarded one of the three prizes in the Cellular and Molecular Biology category of the conference, which was attended by about 500 people, including chemists, biologists, professors and students from all over the country.
“I was confident enough during the judging because I’ve been working on this for a long time,” Sando said.
Lowrey and Sando’s research, “Site-directed Mutagenesis of Mammalian Casein Kinase I Epsilon,” is a continuation of the work Lowrey began at Northwestern University before coming to Rider University in 2005. Sando, then a freshman, expressed interest in Lowrey’s research and started working with him during his second semester.
Lowrey’s research focuses on the molecular biology of circadian rhythms. A circadian system is a 24-hour biological clock innate to living things, while circadian rhythm is any rhythm that lasts any period of a day, such as a sleep cycle, temperature cycle or hormonal cycle. Lowrey said all cells have small “clocks,” which usually run at the same time and are necessary to control actions in the cells.
In biology, researchers must create mutations to learn how something functions, explained Lowrey who, along with Sando, is adding mutations to one of the proteins called Casein Kinase I Epsilon in a cell. The protein is analogous to a gear as the cell is to a clock, Lowrey said. In their research, Sando and Lowrey ask how the mutation affects the cell or the “clock.” While the research is ongoing, their goal is to learn more about the protein’s functions in the circadian system, Sando said.
After he graduates from Rider, Sando plans to pursue his Ph.D. in neuroscience and microbiology. He plans to work in the neuroscience field as either a researcher in a laboratory or a professor at a university.
“Neuroscience is kind of where science is moving today,” Sando said.
Besides membership into the invitation-only society, Sando received a medal, certificate and $500. Lowrey, chapter adviser of Sigma Xi at Rider, said induction into the society allows Sando to network with other researchers. Sando’s membership in the society also shows how serious he is about his research and his future, explained Lowrey.
“For those reasons, it’s an honor for a student to be a member in this society,” he said.
Sando is also a member of the national biology honor society Beta Beta Beta, Sustainable Rider and the Rider University Student Blood Council, and he is involved in Supplemental Instruction as a peer tutor for chemistry and biology classes. In addition, Sando is an Andrew J. Rider Scholar, Undergraduate Research Award Scholar and Merck and the American Association for the Advancement of Science Scholar, as well as a recipient of the Merck Award. Outside of the scholarly realm, Sando plays the guitar in the band “Insert Name Here,” which plays at various venues throughout Bucks County, Pa. Sando’s brother Matt – also a student at Rider – is the band’s bassist.
Lowrey said among the department’s students, Sando stands out.
“Rick is one of our top Biology students in the program. In fact, he may be number one for his year,” Lowrey said. “Any professor in the Biology or Chemistry departments would tell us that Rick is one our top students here.”
